Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 (2025) vs Dell XPS 16 9640 (2024)
Design & Portability
- MacBook Air M4
- Exceptionally lightweight—such as the 15-inch version weighing about 1.37 lb (620 g) lighter than the Dell XPS 16 9640—with a sleek, fanless design in Sky Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver colorways (LOS40, WIRED, TechRadar).
- Build quality remains premium and minimalist, ideal for frequent travel and comfort (WIRED, TechRadar).
- Dell XPS
Verdict: If featherweight portability is your top priority, the MacBook Air M4 wins.
Performance & Battery Life
- MacBook Air M4
- Features the robust Apple M4—a 10-core CPU with dramatically improved benchmarks: Geekbench 6: +66% (single-core), +37% (multi-core) vs Dell XPS 13 (9340) (NanoReview.net).
- Geekbench V6 tests show it wildly outperforms Dell XPS 13 models—often over 150% faster in daily workflows (Geekbench).
- Boasts up to 20 hours of battery life, the longest for any MacBook Air to date (Wikipedia, WIRED).
- Dell XPS
- Delivers strong Windows-based performance; for example, the XPS 13 with Snapdragon processor offers about 19 hours of battery life (Laptop Mag), while the XPS 16 emphasizes multi-core performance with a larger battery (YouTube).
- Offers more refreshing display options and broader port selection, including USB-C/Thunderbolt options and sometimes USB-A or SD ports (TechRadar, Wikipedia, Latch Finance Insights).
Verdict: For sustained performance and battery endurance, the MacBook Air M4 takes the crown. Dell XPS models appeal more if you value display refresh rates, ports, or GPU power.
Display & Features
- MacBook Air M4
- Dell XPS
- Typically offers higher refresh OLED or touch displays with richer blacks (e.g., 3K OLED), often with thinner bezels for immersive viewing (TechRadar, Latch Finance Insights, Tom’s Guide).
Verdict: MacBook Air wins on clarity and external display support; Dell excels in vibrancy and refresh flexibility.
Summary Comparison
| Feature | MacBook Air M4 (2025) | Dell XPS (Latest Models) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight & Portability | Extremely lightweight, sleek, fanless | Heavier, still portable but less streamlined |
| Performance | High CPU/GPU benchmarks; efficient M4 chip | Strong multi-core especially with discrete GPUs |
| Battery Life | Up to ~20 hours | Varies; Snapdragon X model ~19 h, others less |
| Display | Bright Liquid Retina; dual external 6K support | OLED/refresh options, touchscreen variants available |
| Ports & Flexibility | Limited selection, modern design | More ports including USB-A/Thunderbolt, versatile configurations |
| Ecosystem | Seamless macOS, long updates, tight integration | Windows flexibility, broader software/game compatibility |
Bottom Line
- ** Choose the MacBook Air M4** if your priorities are ultra-lightweight mobility, industry-leading battery life, and sleek integration into the Apple ecosystem.
- ** Opt for a Dell XPS** if you need the flexibility of Windows, richer port options, or specialized display features like touch or higher refresh rates.
Let me know if you’d like a tailored recommendation based on your work style, accessories, or budget!
